REIGNING champions Farnworth Social Circle know they need to beat Kearsley tomorrow to have a realistic chance of defending their title.

The Piggott Street side go into the Premiership game 11 points adrift of their second-placed visitors and 15 behind leaders Farnworth.

With six points for a win and seven league matches remaining after tomorrow a victory would keep Social Circle in the title mix while a defeat would almost certainly leave them with too much to do, especially if Farnworth win at third-placed Bradshaw.

There do not come much bigger tests than against a Kearsley side who have won their last four league matches. But Circle have also hit form with three wins from their last four games and winning through to the final of the Hamer Cup.

Summing up the importance of tomorrow’s match, vice-captain Richard Dempster said: “It’s massive. Barring the semi-final of the cup this is our biggest game.

“But we don’t mind the big games, we believe if we bring our A game we’re a match for anyone. “They’re a good side and look like they’ve recruited quite well. They have some good, talented players who are playing well together as a unit.

“We’re prepared. We know what we have to do and we have to go out there and do it.

“When we played at their place it didn’t go according to plan but we’ve had a turnaround in form in recent weeks.

“We’re looking more positive in our cricket in general.”

Dempster, who joined Social Circle from Leigh in the winter, admits it has taken his side a while to find some form.

“At the start of the season we were probably underachieving,” he said. “But we have a few changes with two or three experience players going, including the captain, and recruiting myself and a couple of others.

“It has taken time to gel but we’re now getting used to being around each other and getting to know each other’s strengths.

“The pressure’s on Kearsley. They’ve got to come to our ground and play, and we’ll see how they handle it.

“From our point of view we’ve got to knuckle down and beat them then go on from there.”

Social Circle follow up tomorrow’s fixture with games against bottom club Eagley and seventh-placed Lostock before taking on Farnworth.

The Association division is incredibly tight with just 14 points separating the top eight.

The top two meet at Daisy Hill where leaders Atherton are the visitors, while third-placed Blackrod go to bottom club Golborne and fourth-placed Little Lever – who have had two impressive wins in their last two games – are at home to a Tonge side who are eighth but would leapfrog their opponents with a victory such is the competitivenes of the division.